Light pollution in Australia and the Milky Way

[SYZ]

Australia has the lowest proportion of land area affected
by light pollution among G20 countries.

Despite the majority land mass of Australia being able to
see the Milky Way, the overwhelming majority of people
suffer from light pollution.

This means a large proportion of Australians probably can't
see the Milky Way from their home.   And levels of light
pollution globally have been increasing rapidly, by an average
10% per year from 2011 to 2022, according to citizen science
project Globe at Night, which measures "seen" light pollution
from the ground.

These four images show the appearance of the Milky Way from
four Australian locations:

Inner city:


Suburban:


Rural:


Remote:


   Living in South Gippsland, near Bass Strait, we see the
   Milky Way as in the "rural" image (although minus that
   visible foreground and horizon).

How do you folks see the Milky Way?  Can you see it at all?

[Minimalist]

Not in Phoenix.  We're lucky we can see the moon.


One time some years ago, driving between Prescott and Sedona we came to what was called a "Scenic Overview," basically a parking area off the small road which connected those two towns.  Meant to view the famed Red Rocks during day time there was not a light any where in sight for miles.  We just laid back on the hood of the car and looked up.  It was breath taking!

[Edible crust]

We are on the outskirts of a large town the light pollution is pretty bad as we're near a dual carriageway, never seen anything like the last two images from here.

I'll never forget though the time we were camping in mid Wales on a farmers field. It was around the Easter holiday no lights for miles around and a clear sky, it was incredible, I woke my wife and kids to come outside to see.

[pattylt]

When we lived in Bumfuck Wyoming, north of Casper, we saw the Milky Way all the time. Now, in northern Colorado, it depends. We live west of a small city that lays in a river valley. There’s enough light pollution that dims the view but, a 10 minute drive further West, we get a good view. If we want the drop dead gorgeous view, we go into the mountains and away from any civilization. Breathtaking!

[Minimalist]

It's no wonder the ancients were impressed.

[Deesse23]

Australia has the lowest proportion of land area affected
by light pollution among G20 countries.

Despite the majority land mass of Australia being able to
see the Milky Way, the overwhelming majority of people
suffer from light pollution.

This means a large proportion of Australians probably can't
see the Milky Way from their home.   And levels of light
pollution globally have been increasing rapidly, by an average
10% per year from 2011 to 2022, according to citizen science
project Globe at Night, which measures "seen" light pollution
from the ground.

These four images show the appearance of the Milky Way from
four Australian locations:

Inner city:


Suburban:


Rural:


Remote:


   Living in South Gippsland, near Bass Strait, we see the
   Milky Way as in the "rural" image (although minus that
   visible foreground and horizon).

How do you folks see the Milky Way?  Can you see it at all?

YOU LUCKY BASTARD!

[Silly Deity]

On a dark night with no moon I can see it although not in its full glory. I live in a village where the street lights are mostly switched off at midnight so there's no immediate light pollution. I'm across the Bristol Channel from the South Wales cities of Cardiff and Newport and if there are clouds hanging over the South Wales hills - as there often are - they reflect and seem to magnify some of the light pollution from that direction. Thankfully its north of me and as the Milky Way is in the southern part of the night sky it's not the problem it might otherwise be. 

I have to say that the light pollution levels have declined significantly since the demise of sodium streetlights and the switchover to LEDs. They're obviously better for the environment in terms of their energy consumption, but the directionality of LED light sources means that the light is directed downwards.

[epronovost]

How do you folks see the Milky Way?  Can you see it at all?

I live in a large urban center and can hardly see more than two dozens stars at night. It's depressing and wish the city took some measure to reduce light pollution.